diff --git a/.rspec b/.rspec
index 38dcdb5..3bbc6f4 100644
--- a/.rspec
+++ b/.rspec
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 --no-colour
+--require spec_helper
diff --git a/app/controllers/home_controller.rb b/app/controllers/home_controller.rb
index 3b63979..6374d77 100644
--- a/app/controllers/home_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/home_controller.rb
@@ -1,14 +1,7 @@
 class HomeController < ApplicationController
-  STORIES_PER_PAGE = 25
-
-  # how many points a story has to have to probably get on the front page
-  HOT_STORY_POINTS = 5
-
-  # how many days old a story can be to get on the bottom half of /recent
-  RECENT_DAYS_OLD = 3
-
   # for rss feeds, load the user's tag filters if a token is passed
   before_filter :find_user_from_rss_token, :only => [ :index, :newest ]
+  before_filter { @page = page }
 
   def about
     begin
@@ -20,8 +13,18 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
     end
   end
 
+  def privacy
+    begin
+      render :action => "privacy"
+    rescue
+      render :text => "<div class=\"box wide\">" <<
+        "You apparently have no privacy." <<
+        "</div>", :layout => "application"
+    end
+  end
+
   def hidden
-    @stories = find_stories({ :hidden => true })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(hidden: true) { paginate stories.hidden }
 
     @heading = @title = "Hidden Stories"
     @cur_url = "/hidden"
@@ -30,7 +33,7 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def index
-    @stories = find_stories({ :hottest => true })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(hottest: true) { paginate stories.hottest }
 
     @rss_link ||= { :title => "RSS 2.0",
       :href => "/rss#{@user ? "?token=#{@user.rss_token}" : ""}" }
@@ -52,7 +55,7 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
   end
 
   def newest
-    @stories = find_stories({ :newest => true })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(newest: true) { paginate stories.newest }
 
     @heading = @title = "Newest Stories"
     @cur_url = "/newest"
@@ -76,7 +79,7 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
   def newest_by_user
     by_user = User.where(:username => params[:user]).first!
 
-    @stories = find_stories({ :by_user => by_user })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(by_user: by_user) { paginate stories.by_user(by_user) }
 
     @heading = @title = "Newest Stories by #{by_user.username}"
     @cur_url = "/newest/#{by_user.username}"
@@ -87,18 +90,15 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
     render :action => "index"
   end
 
-  def privacy
-    begin
-      render :action => "privacy"
-    rescue
-      render :text => "<div class=\"box wide\">" <<
-        "You apparently have no privacy." <<
-        "</div>", :layout => "application"
-    end
-  end
-
   def recent
-    @stories = find_stories({ :recent => true })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(recent: true) do
+      scope = if page == 1
+        stories.recent
+      else
+        stories.newest
+      end
+      paginate scope
+    end
 
     @heading = @title = "Recent Stories"
     @cur_url = "/recent"
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
   def tagged
     @tag = Tag.where(:tag => params[:tag]).first!
 
-    @stories = find_stories({ :tag => @tag })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(tag: @tag) { paginate stories.tagged(@tag) }
 
     @heading = @title = @tag.description.blank?? @tag.tag : @tag.description
     @cur_url = tag_url(@tag.tag)
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
       @cur_url << "/#{params[:length]}"
     end
 
-    @stories = find_stories({ :top => true, :length => length })
+    @stories, @show_more = get_from_cache(top: true, length: length) { paginate stories.top(length) }
 
     if length[:dur] > 1
       @heading = @title = "Top Stories of the Past #{length[:dur]} " <<
@@ -152,152 +152,33 @@ class HomeController < ApplicationController
   end
 
 private
-  def find_stories(how = {})
-    @page = how[:page] = 1
-    if params[:page].to_i > 0
-      @page = how[:page] = params[:page].to_i
-    end
 
-    # guest views have caching, but don't bother for logged-in users or dev or
-    # when the user has tag filters
-    if Rails.env.development? || @user || tags_filtered_by_cookie.any?
-      stories, @show_more = _find_stories(how)
+  def filtered_tag_ids
+    if @user
+      @user.tag_filters.map{|tf| tf.tag_id }
     else
-      stories, @show_more = Rails.cache.fetch("stories " <<
-      how.sort.map{|k,v| "#{k}=#{v.to_param}" }.join(" "),
-      :expires_in => 45) do
-        _find_stories(how)
-      end
+      tags_filtered_by_cookie.map{|t| t.id }
     end
-
-    stories
   end
 
-  def _find_stories(how)
-    stories = Story.unmerged.where(:is_expired => false)
+  def stories
+    StoryRepository.new(@user, exclude_tags: filtered_tag_ids)
+  end
 
-    if @user
-      hidden_arel = Vote.arel_table.where(
-        Vote.arel_table[:user_id].eq(@user.id)
-      ).where(
-        Vote.arel_table[:vote].lteq(0)
-      ).where(
-        Vote.arel_table[:comment_id].eq(nil)
-      ).project(
-        Vote.arel_table[:story_id]
-      )
+  def page
+    params[:page].to_i > 0 ? params[:page].to_i : 1
+  end
 
-      if how[:hidden]
-        stories = stories.where(Story.arel_table[:id].in(hidden_arel))
-      elsif !how[:by_user]
-        stories = stories.where(Story.arel_table[:id].not_in(hidden_arel))
-      end
-    end
+  def paginate(scope)
+    StoriesPaginator.new(scope, page, @user).get
+  end
 
-    if how[:tag] || how[:hottest]
-      stories = stories.where("(CAST(upvotes AS integer) - " <<
-        "CAST(downvotes AS integer)) >= -2")
-    end
-
-    if how[:tag]
-      stories = stories.where(
-        Story.arel_table[:id].in(
-          Tagging.arel_table.where(
-            Tagging.arel_table[:tag_id].eq(how[:tag].id)
-          ).project(
-            Tagging.arel_table[:story_id]
-          )
-        )
-      )
-    elsif how[:by_user]
-      stories = stories.where(:user_id => how[:by_user].id)
+  def get_from_cache(opts={}, &block)
+    if Rails.env.development? || @user || tags_filtered_by_cookie.any?
+      yield
     else
-      filtered_tag_ids = []
-      if @user
-        filtered_tag_ids = @user.tag_filters.map{|tf| tf.tag_id }
-      else
-        filtered_tag_ids = tags_filtered_by_cookie.map{|t| t.id }
-      end
-
-      if filtered_tag_ids.any?
-        stories = stories.where(
-          Story.arel_table[:id].not_in(
-            Tagging.arel_table.where(
-              Tagging.arel_table[:tag_id].in(filtered_tag_ids)
-            ).project(
-              Tagging.arel_table[:story_id]
-            )
-          )
-        )
-      end
+      key = opts.merge(page: page).sort.map{|k,v| "#{k}=#{v.to_param}" }.join(" ")
+      Rails.cache.fetch("stories #{key}", :expires_in => 45, &block)
     end
-
-    if how[:recent] && how[:page] == 1
-      # try to help recently-submitted stories that didn't gain traction
-
-      story_ids = []
-
-      10.times do |x|
-        # grab the list of stories from the past n days, shifting out popular
-        # stories that did gain traction
-        story_ids = stories.select(:id, :upvotes, :downvotes).
-          where(Story.arel_table[:created_at].gt((RECENT_DAYS_OLD + x).days.ago)).
-          order("stories.created_at DESC").
-          reject{|s| s.score > HOT_STORY_POINTS }
-
-        if story_ids.length > STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1
-          # keep the top half (newest stories)
-          keep_ids = story_ids[0 .. ((STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1) * 0.5)]
-          story_ids = story_ids[keep_ids.length - 1 ... story_ids.length]
-
-          # make the bottom half a random selection of older stories
-          while keep_ids.length <= STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1
-            story_ids.shuffle!
-            keep_ids.push story_ids.shift
-          end
-
-          stories = Story.where(:id => keep_ids)
-          break
-        end
-      end
-    elsif how[:top] && how[:length]
-      stories = stories.where("created_at >= (NOW() - INTERVAL " <<
-        "#{how[:length][:dur]} #{how[:length][:intv].upcase})")
-    end
-
-    order = "hotness"
-    if how[:newest] || how[:recent] || how[:tag]
-      order = "stories.created_at DESC"
-    elsif how[:top]
-      order = "(CAST(upvotes AS integer) - CAST(downvotes AS integer)) DESC"
-    end
-
-    stories = stories.includes(
-      :user, :taggings => :tag
-    ).limit(
-      STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1
-    ).offset(
-      (how[:page] - 1) * STORIES_PER_PAGE
-    ).order(
-      order
-    ).to_a
-
-    show_more = false
-    if stories.count > STORIES_PER_PAGE
-      show_more = true
-      stories.pop
-    end
-
-    if @user
-      votes = Vote.votes_by_user_for_stories_hash(@user.id, stories.map(&:id))
-
-      stories.each do |s|
-        if votes[s.id]
-          s.vote = votes[s.id]
-        end
-      end
-    end
-
-    [ stories, show_more ]
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/stories_paginator.rb b/app/models/stories_paginator.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31e340b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/stories_paginator.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+class StoriesPaginator
+  STORIES_PER_PAGE = 25
+
+  def initialize(scope, page, user)
+    @scope = scope
+    @page = page
+    @user = user
+  end
+
+  def get
+    with_pagination_info @scope.limit(STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1)
+      .offset((@page - 1) * STORIES_PER_PAGE)
+      .includes(:user, :taggings => :tag)
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def with_pagination_info(scope)
+    scope = scope.to_a
+    show_more = scope.count > STORIES_PER_PAGE
+    scope.pop if show_more
+
+    [cache_votes(scope), show_more]
+  end
+
+  def cache_votes(scope)
+    if @user
+      votes = Vote.votes_by_user_for_stories_hash(@user.id, scope.map(&:id))
+
+      scope.each do |s|
+        if votes[s.id]
+          s.vote = votes[s.id]
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    scope
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/models/story_repository.rb b/app/models/story_repository.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eb14783
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/story_repository.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+class StoryRepository
+  # how many days old a story can be to get on the bottom half of /recent
+  RECENT_DAYS_OLD = 3
+  # how many points a story has to have to probably get on the front page
+  HOT_STORY_POINTS = 5
+
+  def initialize(user, params = {})
+    @user = user
+    @params = params
+  end
+
+  def hottest
+    hottest = positive_ranked base_scope
+    hottest = filter_downvoted_and_tags hottest
+    hottest.order('hotness')
+  end
+
+  def hidden
+    hidden = base_scope
+    hidden = hidden.where(Story.arel_table[:id].in(hidden_arel)) if @user
+    hidden = filter_tags hidden, @params[:exclude_tags] if @params[:exclude_tags].try(:any?)
+    hidden.order('hotness')
+  end
+
+  def newest
+    newest = filter_downvoted_and_tags base_scope
+    newest.order('stories.created_at DESC')
+  end
+
+  def by_user(user)
+    base_scope.where(user_id: user.id)
+  end
+
+  def recent
+    stories = newest
+
+    # try to help recently-submitted stories that didn't gain traction
+    story_ids = []
+
+    10.times do |x|
+      # grab the list of stories from the past n days, shifting out popular
+      # stories that did gain traction
+      story_ids = stories.select(:id, :upvotes, :downvotes, :user_id).
+        where(Story.arel_table[:created_at].gt((RECENT_DAYS_OLD + x).days.ago)).
+        order("stories.created_at DESC").
+        reject{|s| s.score > HOT_STORY_POINTS }
+
+      if story_ids.length > StoriesPaginator::STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1
+        # keep the top half (newest stories)
+        keep_ids = story_ids[0 .. ((StoriesPaginator::STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1) * 0.5)]
+        story_ids = story_ids[keep_ids.length - 1 ... story_ids.length]
+
+        # make the bottom half a random selection of older stories
+        while keep_ids.length <= StoriesPaginator::STORIES_PER_PAGE + 1
+          story_ids.shuffle!
+          keep_ids.push story_ids.shift
+        end
+
+        stories = Story.where(:id => keep_ids)
+        break
+      end
+    end
+
+    stories.order('stories.created_at DESC')
+  end
+
+  def tagged(tag)
+    tagged = positive_ranked base_scope
+    tagged = tagged.where(
+      Story.arel_table[:id].in(
+        Tagging.arel_table.where(
+          Tagging.arel_table[:tag_id].eq(tag.id)
+        ).project(
+          Tagging.arel_table[:story_id]
+        )
+      )
+    )
+    tagged.order('stories.created_at DESC')
+  end
+
+  def top(length)
+    top = base_scope.where("created_at >= (NOW() - INTERVAL #{length[:dur]} #{length[:intv].upcase})")
+    top.order '(CAST(upvotes AS integer) - CAST(downvotes AS integer)) DESC'
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def base_scope
+    Story.unmerged.where(is_expired: false)
+  end
+
+  def filter_downvoted_and_tags(scope)
+    scope = filter_downvoted scope if @user
+    scope = filter_tags scope, @params[:exclude_tags] if @params[:exclude_tags].try(:any?)
+    scope
+  end
+
+  def filter_downvoted(scope)
+    scope.where(Story.arel_table[:id].not_in(hidden_arel))
+  end
+
+  def hidden_arel
+    if @user
+      hidden_arel = Vote.arel_table.where(
+        Vote.arel_table[:user_id].eq(@user.id)
+      ).where(
+        Vote.arel_table[:vote].lteq(0)
+      ).where(
+        Vote.arel_table[:comment_id].eq(nil)
+      ).project(
+        Vote.arel_table[:story_id]
+      )
+    end
+  end
+
+  def positive_ranked(scope)
+    scope.where("(CAST(upvotes AS integer) - CAST(downvotes AS integer)) >= -2")
+  end
+
+  def filter_tags(scope, tags)
+    scope.where(
+      Story.arel_table[:id].not_in(
+        Tagging.arel_table.where(
+          Tagging.arel_table[:tag_id].in(tags)
+        ).project(
+          Tagging.arel_table[:story_id]
+        )
+      )
+    )
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/home_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/home_controller_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a50d9cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/controllers/home_controller_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+describe HomeController do
+  before { Rails.cache.clear }
+  before { StoriesPaginator.any_instance.should_receive(:get).and_return [scope, true] }
+
+  describe 'GET index' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Hottest Scope' }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:hottest) }    
+    before { get :index }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'rss_link' do
+        subject { assigns(:rss_link) }
+
+        its([:title]) { should eq 'RSS 2.0' }
+        its([:href]) { should include '/rss' }
+      end
+
+      describe 'page' do
+        subject { assigns(:page) }
+
+        it { should eq 1 }
+      end
+
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+
+      describe 'show_more' do
+        subject { assigns(:show_more) }
+
+        it { should eq true }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'GET index' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Hidden Scope' }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:hidden) }
+    before { get :hidden }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'GET newest' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Newest Scope' }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:newest) }
+    before { get :newest }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'GET newest_by_user' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Newest By User Scope' }
+    let(:user) { User.make! }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:by_user).with(user) }
+    before { get 'newest_by_user', user: user.username }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'GET recent' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Recent Scope' }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:recent) }
+    before { get 'recent' }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'GET tagged' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Tagged Scope' }
+    let(:tag) { Tag.make! tag: 'tag' }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:tagged).with(tag) }
+    before { get 'tagged', tag: tag.tag }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe 'GET top' do
+    let(:scope) { double 'Top Scope' }
+
+    before { StoryRepository.any_instance.should_receive(:top) }
+    before { get 'top' }
+
+    context 'assigns' do
+      describe 'stories' do
+        subject { assigns(:stories) }
+
+        it { should eq scope }
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/stories_paginator_spec.rb b/spec/models/stories_paginator_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da65f83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/stories_paginator_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+describe StoriesPaginator do
+  let(:current_user) { User.make! }
+  let(:paginator)    { described_class.new(scope, 1, current_user) }
+
+  describe '.page' do
+    context 'fake scope' do
+      let(:scope) { double('Stories Scope').as_null_object }
+
+      before do
+        allow(scope).to receive(:to_a) { scope }
+        expect(scope).to receive(:limit).with(26) { scope }
+        expect(scope).to receive(:offset).with(0) { scope }
+        Vote.stub :votes_by_user_for_stories_hash
+      end
+
+      it 'paginates given scope' do
+        paginator.stub :result
+        paginator.get
+      end
+
+      describe 'show more' do
+        subject { stories.hottest[1] }
+
+        it 'is true if scope.count > 25' do
+          allow(scope).to receive(:count).and_return 26
+          expect(paginator.get[1]).to eq true
+        end
+
+        it 'is false if scope.count <= 25' do
+          allow(scope).to receive(:count).and_return 10
+          expect(paginator.get[1]).to eq false
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'integration' do
+      let!(:s1) { Story.make! }
+      let!(:s2) { Story.make! }
+      let!(:s3) { Story.make! }
+
+      let!(:v1) { Vote.make! story: s1, user: current_user }
+      let!(:v2) { Vote.make! story: s2 }
+
+      let(:scope) { Story.all }
+
+      it 'saves if user have voted for the post' do
+        result = paginator.get[0]
+        expect(result.find { |s| s.id == s1.id }.vote).to eq 1
+        expect(result.find { |s| s.id == s2.id }.vote).to be_nil
+        expect(result.find { |s| s.id == s3.id }.vote).to be_nil
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/story_repository_spec.rb b/spec/models/story_repository_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8967234
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/story_repository_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+describe StoryRepository do
+  let(:current_user) { nil }
+  let(:stories)      { described_class.new current_user }
+
+  describe '#hottest' do
+    subject { stories.hottest }
+
+    it 'excludes merged stories' do
+      merged = Story.make! merged_story_id: 10
+      expect(subject).not_to include merged
+    end
+
+    it 'excludes expired stories' do
+      expired = Story.make! is_expired: true
+      expect(subject).not_to include expired
+    end
+
+    it 'excludes stories with filtered tags' do
+      filtered_tag = Tag.create! tag: 'not_interesting_stuff'
+      story = Story.make!
+      tagged_story = Story.make!
+      tagged_story.taggings.create! tag: filtered_tag
+
+      hottest = described_class.new(current_user, exclude_tags: [filtered_tag.id]).hottest
+
+      expect(hottest).to include story
+      expect(hottest).not_to include tagged_story
+    end
+
+    it 'includes story with 3 downvote and 1 upvotes' do
+      story = Story.make! downvotes: 3
+      expect(subject).to include story
+    end
+
+    it 'excludes story with 4 downvotes and 1 upvotes' do
+      story = Story.make! downvotes: 4
+      expect(subject).not_to include story
+    end
+
+    it 'orders by hotness asc' do
+      meh = Story.make! hotness: 50
+      hot = Story.make! hotness: 100
+      cool = Story.make! hotness: 25
+
+      expect(subject).to eq [cool, meh, hot]
+    end
+
+    context 'logged in' do
+      let(:current_user) { User.make! }
+
+      it 'excludes downvoted stories' do
+        downvoted = Story.make!
+        Vote.create! story: downvoted, user: current_user, vote: -1
+        expect(subject).not_to include downvoted
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#hidden' do
+    subject { stories.hidden }
+
+    context 'logged in' do
+      let(:current_user) { User.make! }
+
+      it 'includes downvoted story' do
+        downvoted = Story.make!
+        Vote.create! story: downvoted, user: current_user, vote: -1
+        expect(subject).to include downvoted
+      end
+
+      it 'excludes visible story' do
+        visible = Story.make!
+        expect(subject).not_to include visible
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#newest' do
+    subject { stories.newest }
+
+    it 'orders by created_at' do
+      story1 = Story.make! created_at: 1.hour.ago
+      story2 = Story.make! created_at: 5.hours.ago
+      story3 = Story.make! created_at: 5.minutes.ago
+
+      expect(subject).to eq [story3, story1, story2]
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#by_user' do
+    let(:another_user) { User.make! }
+
+    subject { stories.by_user(another_user) }
+
+    it 'orders by created_at' do
+      story1 = Story.make! user_id: another_user.id
+      story2 = Story.make!
+      story3 = Story.make! user_id: another_user.id
+
+      expect(subject).to eq [story1, story3]
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#recent' do
+    subject { stories.recent }
+
+    it 'orders by created_at' do
+      story1 = Story.make! created_at: 1.hour.ago
+      story2 = Story.make! created_at: 5.hours.ago
+      story3 = Story.make! created_at: 5.minutes.ago
+
+      expect(subject).to eq [story3, story1, story2]
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#tagged' do
+    let(:tag) { Tag.make! }
+    let(:tagged) do
+      story = Story.make!
+      story.taggings.create! tag: tag
+      story
+    end
+
+    subject { stories.tagged(tag) }
+
+    it 'excludes stories not tagged' do
+      story = Story.make!
+      expect(subject).not_to include story
+    end
+
+    it 'includes stories tagged' do
+      expect(subject).to include tagged
+    end
+
+    it 'includes story with 3 downvote and 1 upvotes' do
+      tagged.update_attribute :downvotes, 3
+      expect(subject).to include tagged
+    end
+
+    it 'excludes story with 4 downvotes and 1 upvotes' do
+      tagged.update_attribute :downvotes, 4
+      expect(subject).not_to include tagged
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#top' do
+    context 'filtering' do
+      subject { stories.top(length) }
+
+      let!(:month_ago) { Story.make! created_at: 1.month.ago }
+      let!(:ten_month_ago) { Story.make! created_at: 10.month.ago }
+
+      context '2 weeks' do
+        let(:length) { { dur: 2, intv: 'Week' } }
+
+        it { should_not include month_ago }
+      end
+
+      context '2 month' do
+        let(:length) { { dur: 2, intv: 'Month' } }
+
+        it { should include month_ago }
+        it { should_not include ten_month_ago }
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'ordering' do
+      it 'orders by votes difference' do
+        scope = stories.top dur: 12, intv: 'Month'
+
+        s1 = Story.make! downvotes: 10
+        s2 = Story.make! downvotes: 5
+        s3 = Story.make! downvotes: 3
+        s4 = Story.make! downvotes: 8
+
+        expect(scope).to eq [s3, s2, s4, s1]
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/support/blueprints.rb b/spec/support/blueprints.rb
index 27ffa1b..a58f687 100644
--- a/spec/support/blueprints.rb
+++ b/spec/support/blueprints.rb
@@ -44,3 +44,9 @@ Message.blueprint do
   subject { "message subject #{sn}" }
   body { "message body #{sn}" }
 end
+
+Vote.blueprint do
+  story
+  user
+  vote { 1 }
+end